Toastmaster Program (with IRDA) 23-24 january 2010: report

“Is it all right if I decided not to come tomorrow (Saturday)?”

“By not coming here, you are depriving other people who really wanted to join this program but couldn’t go because the slot has been filled by you first.” That was what one of the coordinator of this program told my friend when he was thinking of pulling off the Toastmaster and IRDA speech-craft program 23-24 January 2009 on the last minute.

I didn’t know him until the day of the registration.

But what he was thinking summarized what I was thinking too. Darn it! Would I make a mockery of myself by having to stand up in front of people and start talking nonsense? Am I crazy to the bones?

My resume of public speaking wasn’t an avant garde moment. Thus, I didn’t feel OK with the idea of coming to this 2-days seminar. And believe it, folks, I am kind of shy guy (HAHA!). Ever ready to shun meeting with strangers. Nonetheless, I kept on repeating ‘YES,YES,YES!’ when Cindy, our advanced Communicator toastmaster (she is also a district officer toastmaster) asked whether I would be coming or not.

Thus, on the cold Saturday morning, I braved my soul and headed to Pandan City.

There weren’t many people there. Ah! So the program has been cancelled. I smiled and called Cindy (but kept on hiding my enthusiasm of thinking I could get away without feeling guilty).

“No! No! It’s in front of the hotel Opposite it!”

Darn! So it was on. Talk about false hope.

In fact, there were already quite few people there, ladies wearing the best dresses, guys with tie and suit. Uh! And I am wearing jeans and T-shirt!

I met two girls, have a good chat with them and few others. As of that moment, I could still breathe easily, even cracking a joke or two.

But then, as if everybody just turned up out of nowhere, the tension mounted. Some people greeted those who they knew, many smiled silently to strangers next to them, and some was having the time of their life. Registration and seating at the appropriate seats followed suit.

I could go on about the details of the opening ceremony. About my relieve of seeing at least 2 familiar faces (and having a blast time with my soon-to be roommates and other guys). About everything, really. But what really struck me was the speech given by Mariana Pascal, one of the professional speakers who just flew from Canada (I am sorry I didn’t know her position in this Toastmaster Hierarchy, but she was one of the greatest speakers I have ever met).

Her speech was casual, funny and in a way arousing.

It was simple but full of encouragement and advises. We were connected to her speech in a way gravity is pulling every single thing in a downward motion. What a speech!

Later the program and people who became good friends!

To be continued…